Sacrifice

Chapter III: “Win some, lose some ”

The Trojans who had managed to flee the city through the secret tunnel were getting with each step closer to their salvation. Aeneas was leading them, holding in his hand the legendary Trojan sword, while Helen and Andromache were walking behind them, making sure that no one was left behind.


“Is this it?’ Achilles asked Paris when they reached the entrance to the tunnel.

“Yes.”

Not wasting any more time, Achilles grabbed a nearby torch and hurried towards the entrance, when he suddenly stopped, sensing that Paris was not following him.

“You had better come with me if you care to see your lady again. Otherwise, I have no interest in rescuing her.”

Paris took a few moments before responding and simply stared at Achilles with a startled and naïve expression on his face.

“I must go back for Briseis, my cousin.”

“Don’t bother. She’s with Menelaus and the Syrians,” The Greek hero spoke with both fury and disgust in his voice.

“The Syrians?” Paris asked confused, stepping closer to Achilles.

“Yes. They’ve come to aid Agamemnon in battle,” Achilles hardly stopped himself from rolling his eyes but he was unable to hide his bored tone.

“Why so?”

“I don’t know and nor do I care. If you wish to, join me.”

These were the last words he addressed the Trojan prince before heading down the tunnel. Paris tightened the grip on his bow and quiver, took a deep breath and followed Achilles inside the tunnel.


A Trojan servant holding a torch in one hand was the first to emerge from the tunnel followed by Aeneas and other men and women. They saw the river and immediately started walking towards it. Everything around them was enveloped in darkness, but the faint light of the moon and the sparkling fire of the torches showed them the way.

Andromache was walking along some of her handmaidens, holding Astyanax tight in her arms and struggling to suppress her tears, when she realized that Helen was no longer by her side. She turned and saw her standing near the tunnel, watching them fading away.

“Helen? What is the matter?” Andromache asked concerned as she quickly made her way to where Helen was.

“Nothing. You should go with the others. I must wait for Paris.”

“I will wait with you. It is not safe to stay here alone.”

“Yes, that is true. Which is why you must not stay with me. Think about Astyanax. Would you be able to live without him?”

Andromache looked down at her baby and held him tighter than before, almost feeling the beatings of his little heart. The thought of loosing him made her body tremble with fear. She looked back at Helen and touched one of her cheeks with her palm.

“Be well.”

“Go! We will catch up with you in a short while. Paris must have found Briseis by now.”

Andromache nodded and slowly started walking away, looking backwards from time to time. Helen watched her go until she disappeared into the night. Just then, she heard some noises similar to footsteps and instantly turned towards the tunnel, hoping to see Paris and Briseis coming out. Instead, she found herself threatened by a certain soldier who held a sharp blade to her throat.

“Not a word princess. Now move.”

The soldier pulled her by the arm then pushed her forward in the direction of the river. Although the river was not close and outside was still dark, she could make out the outline of a ship that was approaching the shore.
To her right, she saw a couple of men on horseback, some of them carrying torches. She was then pushed by the soldier who was holding her towards the group of men.

“Here she is my lord.”

“Who is this man?” Helen asked herself. “Agamemnon? But why would he care about ……” but her thoughts suddenly disappeared and her whole body froze when she saw Menelaus before her. “No! It is impossible,” she though out loud without even realizing it, as panic took hold of her. She looked at him terrified as he approached her.

“The gods were good to me. They kept me alive so that I may give my traitorous wife the punishment she deserves …… and kill that foolish boy who thought he could be a match for me.”

For a couple of moments he was silent and simply stared at her with rabid eyes, bursting with fury. Perhaps he was unable to find the right words or he was just enjoying seeing her so tormented, not knowing what he would do next. Then, his eyes fell on the pearl necklace adorning her neck.

“He gave you this, didn’t he?” Menelaus barked, grabbing the necklace and wrenching it from her neck. He broke it into little pieces that he threw down on the ground, in front of her. Helen could not resist any more. Tearing herself away from the soldier’s grasp she fell on her knees, trying to save as many pearls as possible.

“Look at you, weeping over some cheap jewelry. I am curious to see what will you do when I torture and kill your lover before your eyes,” he spoke menacingly, grabbing her chin and lifting her head up to look him straight in the eyes.


“Where are they? Paris asked desperately, not being able to see anyone through the darkness that still prevailed.

“They’re gone,” Achilles responded showing towards the ship who was now far from shore.

“Where to?”

“Syria.”

“Syria? Why?”

“Because Arokh, the leader of the Syrians wants to take Briseis to his homeland.”

Paris frowned at the obvious sadness in Achilles’ voice and found really peculiar the way he just stared at the ship that was sailing away.

“And Helen? Do you think she might have escaped?”

“I don’t know,” he barely responded, still staring at the ship.

“Wait! What is that?” Paris jumped all of a sudden, noticing something on the ground. “Give me the torch.”

He jerked the torch from Achilles’ hand, since he did not seem to pay much attention to what Paris was saying or doing. He gathered in his palm what was left of the necklace he gave Helen, and showed it to Achilles.

“Pearls from the Sea of Propontis,” he spoke softly as if reliving the moments when he had given this piece of jewelry to his beloved. Achilles slowly shifted his gaze and looked curiously first at the pearls in Paris’ hand, and afterwards at the prince. “I gave her this necklace the night I asked her to come with me. Do you think Menelaus …… “ The prince was unable to finish the sentence imagining what might have happened to Helen.

“No. Menelaus would not kill her. Where would he find another wife like her?” And for the first time that night Achilles allowed a faint smile to appear at the corner of his lips.

“So he will take her back to Sparta?”

“Eventually he will, but for now I am certain that they are on that ship, with Arokh and Briseis.”

“I don’t understand. Why would Menelaus go to Syria?”

“I don’t know. But I can find out and when I do I will go to Syria after them.”

“I will go with you.”

Achilles looked at him for a few seconds after which he turned and started heading back to the tunnel.

“Fine,” he spoke while walking away.

“Where are you going?”

“Back in the city. There is only one man who can help me.”

“Us,” Paris added.

Achilles stopped and looked at him without saying a word. He then turned and entered the tunnel. Paris looked back at the river; light was slowly beginning to take the place of darkness, but the ship was long gone. He just stood there for a short while before going after Achilles.